Verstappen: "I'm going to do everything I can to win for third time in Spielberg"

By many, Max Verstappen is considered a favourite for the first Grands Prix on the new calendar of 2020. The first three races will be held at Spielberg and the Hungaroring. On these circuits, Verstappen was successful last year, winning the race in Austria and starting on pole in Hungary and finally finishing second. However, the driver of Red Bull Racing thinks differently about his role as favourite.

"I never consider myself a favorite, especially on the Red Bull Ring, which doesn't really match our car. Last year's victory came mainly from fighting hard. I certainly don't expect it to be easy this year," Verstappen said in an interview with Speedweek. "I expect Mercedes to be strong and nobody really knows how good Ferrari is anymore. It will be tough, but we will do everything we can to achieve the third consecutive victory in Austria".

Second Grand Prix becomes easier

In Spielberg and Silverstone two Grands Prix will be held this year. Although they are seen as separate Grands Prix, many expect it to be the same race twice. Verstappen is not so sure about that yet. "It all depends on the first race. That makes the second race easier. Everyone knows the road and everyone has driven a lot of laps. It will be a lot more about the details."

If you perform less in the first race, you can try new things for the second race, Verstappen sees in. "It can be very exciting to try new things in the second race if there were problems in the first race. So the second race will be different, with the advantage that you have more knowledge about the track and the course of a race," Verstappen says.